Portable object and information transmission system

ABSTRACT

A portable object ( 10 ) comprises an integrated circuit ( 11 ), a first pad ( 12 ) that is mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit ( 11 ) and a second pad ( 13 ) that is mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit ( 11 ). The portable object ( 10 ) is designed for data transfer by capacitive coupling of the first pad ( 12 ) to a first conducting line ( 33 ) and of the second pad ( 13 ) to a second conducting line ( 34 ), when the portable object ( 10 ) is brought in vicinity to the first and the second conducting line ( 33, 34 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a portable object and an informationtransmission system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage containers that incorporate a tag for radio-frequencyidentification, abbreviated RFID, usually require the use of tags withloop antennas which are read by complex reader antennas.

Documents US 2012/0019417 A1, US 2011/0114647 A1 and U.S. Pat. No.7,845,375 B2 show examples of beverage containers with tags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, a portable object and an information transmissionsystem may have a reduced size.

In an embodiment, a portable object comprises an integrated circuit, afirst pad that is mechanically and electrically connected to theintegrated circuit and a second pad that is mechanically andelectrically connected to the integrated circuit. The portable object isdesigned for data transfer by capacitive coupling of the first pad to afirst conducting line and of the second pad to a second conducting line,when the portable object is brought in vicinity to the first and thesecond conducting line.

It is an advantage that the two pads of the portable object aresufficient for data transfer and energy transfer. Thus, the size and thecost of an electronic component of the portable object can be reduced toa high extent.

In an embodiment, the portable object has such a small weight and smallsize that a user can carry it.

In an embodiment, the first and the second pad are arranged to the firstand the second conducting line in a first phase of operation such thatthe first pad is capacitively coupled to the first conducting line andthe second pad is capacitively coupled to the second conducting line fordata transmission and the first and the second pad are detached from thefirst and the second conducting line in a second phase of operation thatfollows the first phase of operation.

In an embodiment, the coupling of the first and the second pad to thefirst and the second conducting line is configured such that an ACcurrent flows between the pads and the conducting lines and a DC currentbetween the pads and the conducting lines is prevented.

In an embodiment, the portable object comprises a strap that comprisesthe integrated circuit as well as the first and the second pad. Thestrap may be implemented as a RFID strap.

In an embodiment, an area of the first pad has a larger size than anarea of the integrated circuit. An area of the second pad has a largersize than the area of the integrated circuit.

The first and the second pad may be essentially two-dimensional.

The first and the second pad may be basically rectangular.

In an embodiment, the first and the second pad are arranged on oppositeedges of the integrated circuit.

In an embodiment, the portable object comprises a carrier which isattached on the first and the second pad. The carrier is realized as aninsulating layer. The carrier is arranged between the first pad and thefirst conducting line and between the second pad and the secondconducting line. The carrier electrically isolates the pads from theconducting lines.

In an embodiment, the integrated circuit comprises a supply circuit thatis coupled to the first and the second pad, a modulator circuit that iscoupled to the first and the second pad and a logic circuit that iscoupled to a supply output of the supply circuit for power supply and toa control input of the modulator circuit. The integrated circuit maycomprise an analog integrated circuit.

The integrated circuit can be realized as a RFID chip.

In an embodiment, the portable object is realized as an item of a groupconsisting of a container, a capsule, a cup and a card. The containermay be configured to contain beverage or food. The capsule may bedesigned for containing beverage or food. The capsule can be implementedas a coffee capsule, a coffee pod or a coffee pad. The coffee capsulecan for example be realized such that coffee beans or powder are packedin a plastic or aluminum package. The coffee pod, also called coffeepad, can for example be pre-packaged coffee beans or coffee powder inits own filter, especially paper filter. In certain non-English speakingcountries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, the word “pad” is usedinstead of “pod”.

The card can be a part from a group consisting of a chip card, aSubscriber Identify Module card, a System-Identification Module card, amemory card, a smart card, a signature card, a cash card and a creditcard.

In an embodiment, the portable object is realized as a cartridge. Thecartridge can be a drug cartridge.

The portable object can be a fast moving consumer good, abbreviatedFMCG. The FMCG may be a product that is sold quickly and at relativelylow cost. Examples include non-durable goods such as soft drinks,toiletries and grocery items.

The portable object may be a small object containing an electricallyconducting material such as a metal or a liquid. Alternatively, theportable object may be a small object free of an electrically conductingmaterial.

In an embodiment, an information transmission system comprises aportable object and a signal transfer arrangement. The portable objectcomprises an integrated circuit, a first pad that is mechanically andelectrically connected to the integrated circuit and a second pad thatis mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit.The signal transfer arrangement comprises a first and a secondconducting line such that selectively either the first pad capacitivelycouples to the first conducting line and the second pad capacitivelycouples to the second conducting line, when the portable object is invicinity of the signal transfer arrangement, or the first and the secondpad are decoupled from the first and the second conducting line, whenthe portable object is at a distance from the signal transferarrangement.

It is an advantage of the information transmission system that the firstcapacitor between the first pad and the first conducting line and thesecond capacitor between the second pad and the second conducting lineare sufficient to provide energy from the signal transfer arrangement tothe portable object and to transfer data from the portable object to thesignal transfer arrangement. By means of the capacitive coupling, asmall size of the portable object is sufficient.

In an embodiment, the portable object is in vicinity of the signaltransfer arrangement in the first state of operation. The portableobject is at a distance from the signal transfer arrangement in thesecond state of operation.

In an embodiment, the coupling of the first and the second pad to thefirst and the second conducting line is free of an adhesive.

The first and the second conducting line can be parallel to each other.

The first and the second conducting line can be essentiallytwo-dimensional.

In an embodiment, an extension of the first and the second pad iscoordinated with an extension of the first and the second conductingline. For example, the first and the second pad and the first and thesecond conducting line have lateral extensions according to theequation:A=A1+A2+A3≧D,wherein A1 is an extension of the first pad, A2 is an extension of theintegrated circuit, A3 is an extension of the second pad and D is thedistance between the first conducting line and the second conductingline.

In an embodiment, the first and the second conducting line have a maindirection. The signal transfer arrangement is designed such that thecapacitive coupling of the first and the second pad to the first and thesecond conducting line is continued during a movement of the portableobject in the main direction of the first and the second conductingline.

In an embodiment, the first and the second conducting line are arrangedon a non-flat surface of the signal transfer arrangement.

The first and the second conducting line may have the form of circulararcs.

In an embodiment, the information transmission system comprises a readeror host that is electrically connected to the first and the secondconducting line. The reader respectively host is designed to transmitenergy to the portable object and to receive data from the integratedcircuit of the portable object. Optionally, the reader respectively hostis designed to send data to the integrated circuit of the portableobject.

In an embodiment, the reader is a single-chip reader. The reader maycomply with the HF and UHF Gen 2 RFID standards. UHF is the abbreviationfor ultra high frequency. The reader may alternatively be operatingbetween 15 and 150 kHz. The method can be used at any frequency range.The reader may be designed as a RFID reader.

In an embodiment, the signal transfer arrangement comprises aninsulating layer attached to the first conducting line and at least onefurther pad electrically connected to the first conducting line by a viathrough the insulating layer. Moreover, the signal transfer arrangementmay comprise a conductive layer. At least an additional pad may beelectrically connected to the conductive layer or the second conductingline by a further via.

In an embodiment, the first and the second conducting line form atransmission line.

In an embodiment, the signal transfer arrangement comprises a thirdconducting line. The first, the second and the third conducting lineform a coplanar waveguide.

In an embodiment, the portable object is free from a loop antenna whichis coupled to the first and the second pad. Moreover, the reader or hostis free from a loop antenna which is designed for communication with theportable object.

In an embodiment, the information transmission system is foreseen forwireless data transmission.

In an embodiment, a method for communication comprises arranging aportable object and a signal transfer arrangement to each other in afirst phase of operation such that a first pad of the portable object iscapacitively coupled to a first conducting line of the signal transferarrangement and a second pad of the portable object is capacitivelycoupled to a second conducting line of the signal transfer arrangement.The first and the second pad are electrically connected to an integratedcircuit of the portable object and data are transferred between theintegrated circuit and the two conducting lines. Moreover, the portableobject is detached from the signal transfer arrangement in a secondphase of operation that follows the first phase of operation.

In an embodiment, the method and the information transmission system areconfigured for tagging, by using UHF RFID tag, of FMCGs, and aredesigned for reading UHF RFID antenna less tags of FMCGs. A complexreader antenna is not required. Also a special RFID transponder or tagantenna is not required. The RFID reader is able to communicate with theRFID transponder integrated circuit without use of antennas of thereader and of the tag. A communication between the reader and the tag isenabled by using an unbalanced transmission line connected to the RFIDreader and the RFID transponder integrated circuit mounted on the straphaving pads larger than a conventional RFID strap (for example 20-30%bigger pad area).

In an embodiment, the information transmission system, the portableobject and the method for communication allow to reduce costs inimplementation of a RFID enabled solution in FMCGs, especially softdrink, coffee, and in general any hot and cold drink system based on aRFID authentication and/or identification of cups or capsules ID andtype prior to dispense the selected drink. A space occupied by theantenna is not required anymore and tag size can for example be reduced60% or more in comparison to conventional tags. Tag costs are highlyreduced by means of size reduction of the RFID tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of figures of exemplary embodiments mayfurther illustrate and explain the application. In so far as components,elements or devices correspond to one another in terms of their functionin different figures, the description thereof is not repeated for eachof the following figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show exemplary embodiments of a portable object.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3 to 7, 8A to 8C, 9A to 9D, 10A to 10C, 11 and 12 showexemplary embodiments of an information transmission system.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of an electronic system comprisedby an information transmission system.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary embodiment of a model of a signal transferarrangement.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of an equivalent circuit of astrap and of a signal transfer arrangement.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of a model of a signal transferarrangement.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary embodiment of an integrated circuit.

FIG. 18 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable object.

FIGS. 19A, 19B, 20A and 20B show further exemplary embodiments of aninformation transmission system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable object 10 in across-section and in a top view. The portable object 10 comprises anintegrated circuit 11 and a first and a second pad 12, 13. Theintegrated circuit 11 is directly electrically connected to the firstand the second pad 12, 13. The integrated circuit 11 comprises a firstand a second RF pad 14, 15. Moreover, the portable object 10 comprises afirst and a second conductive glue spot 16, 17. The integrated circuit11 is mechanically and electrically connected to the first pad 12 viathe first RF pad 14 and the first conductive glue spot 16 andadditionally to the second pad 13 via the second RF pad 15 and thesecond conductive glue spot 17. The coupling of the integrated circuit11 to the first and the second pad 12, 13 is configured such that a DCelectrical current can flow from the integrated circuit 11 to the firstand the second pad 12, 13.

The first and the second pad 12, 13 are arranged on opposite edges ofthe integrated circuit 11. In the top view, the area of the first pad 12has a larger size in comparison to the area of the integrated circuit11. Moreover, the area of the second pad 13 has a larger size incomparison to the area of the integrated circuit 11. The first and thesecond pad 12, 13 have approximately the same size. The areas of thefirst and the second pad 12, 13 basically have a rectangular form. Thefirst and the second pad 12, 13 contain a metal, such as aluminum orcopper. A strap 18 comprises the integrated circuit 11 and the first andthe second pad 12, 13.

FIG. 1B shows a further exemplary embodiment of the portable object 10which is a further development of the portable object shown in FIG. 1A.The integrated circuit 11 and the first and the second pad 12, 13 areattached to a carrier 19 of the portable object 10. The carrier 19 isrealized as an isolating carrier. The carrier 19 is non-conductive. Thecarrier 19 is made of dielectric insulating material. The carrier 19contains a material such as PTFE or PET. The first and the second pad12, 13 are directly arranged on the carrier 19. The carrier 19 has arectangular form. The carrier 19 is realized as a sheet. The carrier 19may be fabricated from a flexible foil. The carrier 19 is flexible. Thestrap 18 comprises the carrier 19. The carrier 19 acts as a basis forthe first and the second pad 12, 13 and the integrated circuit 11.

The first and the second pad 12, 13 and the integrated circuit 11 have afirst extension A and a second extension B. The second extension B issmaller than the first extension A. The second extension B is the widthof the first pad 12 and the second pad 13. The first extension A is thesum of an extension A1 of the first pad 12, an extension A2 of theintegrated circuit 11 and an extension A3 of the second pad 13.

The strap 18 is realized as a RFID strap or RFID tag. The integratedcircuit 11 is fabricated as a die or chip. The integrated circuit 11 isimplemented as a microchip. The size of the integrated circuit 11 may beless than 1 mm square. The pads 12, 13 are conductive parts and arefabricated from a metallization layer. The pads 12, 13 can be namedconductive contact parts. The pads 12, 13 are etched, printed orattached on the carrier 19. The integrated circuit 11 is attached to thepads 12, 13 by using electrically conductive glue spots 16, 17. Theintegrated circuit 11 is flip-chip mounted on the carrier 19. The strap18 can be fabricated by high-speed roll-to-roll manufacturing. Typicaldimensions of the strap 18 are for example 10 mm×2.5 mm with side pads12, 13 of 2.5 mm×3 mm.

The strap 18 is used to ease the assembling. The integrated circuit 11may also be named as RFID integrated circuit. By means of oversized pads12, 13 the attachment of the RFID integrated circuit 11 to another bodyis simplified. Contrary to that, in conventional flip-chip manufacturingthe microchip is a very small component with tiny contact pads that haveto be very precisely placed on an antenna. This can be a relatively slowprocess.

In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the portable object 10comprises at least a further pad which is connected to the integratedcircuit 11.

FIG. 2A shows an exemplary embodiment of an information transmissionsystem 30 in a cross-section and in a side view. The portable object 10additionally comprises an item 31 on which the strap 18 is arranged.Thus, the integrated circuit 11, the first and the second pad 12, 13 arearranged on the item 31. The information transmission system 30comprises the portable object 10 and a signal transfer arrangement 32.The signal transfer arrangement 32 is designed for signal and energytransfer to the portable object 10. The signal transfer arrangement 32comprises a first and a second conducting line 33, 34. The first and thesecond conducting line 33, 34 form a transmission line. The first andthe second conducting line 33, 34 are straight or linear lines. Thefirst and the second conducting line 33, 34 have a main direction. Thesignal transfer arrangement 32 comprises a carrier body 35 on which thefirst and the second conducting line 33, 34 are attached. The carrierbody 35 is a flexible body or a rigid body. The carrier body 35 isnon-conductive. The carrier body 35 can be a printed circuit board,abbreviated PCB, or a flexible circuit. The first and the secondconducting line 33, 34 are parallel. As also illustrated in FIG. 1B, thefirst and the second pad 12, 13 and the integrated circuit 11 have thefirst extension A. The first and the second conducting line 33, 34 havea distance D. The two conducting lines 33, 34 are separated by thedistance D. Moreover, the first conducting line 33 has a width W and alength L. The second conducting line 34 has approximately the same widthW and the same length L. The extensions follow the equations:A=A1+A2+A3≧DandD+2·W≧A

As shown in the cross-section, the first pad 12 is capacitively coupledto the first conducting line 33 via an air gap 29. Also, the second pad13 is capacitively coupled via the air gap 29 to the second conductingline 34. The first pad 12 and the first conducting line 33 overlap suchthat a first parallel capacitor 97 is formed by the first pad 12 and thefirst conducting line 33. The overlap of the second pad 13 and of thesecond conducting line 34 results in a second parallel capacitor 98formed by the second pad 13 and the second conducting line 34. Due tothe length L of the first and the second conducting line 33, 34 theportable object 10 can be placed on a plurality of sites on the firstand the second conducting line 33, 34. The length L is larger than thesecond extension B of the first pad 12. The length L is larger than thewidth W of the first conducting line 33. The portable object 10 can alsomove in the main direction of the first and the second conducting line33, 34 without losing the electrical coupling between the first and thesecond pad 12, 13 and the first and the second conducting line 33, 34.

FIG. 2B is a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2A. The first and the second conducting line33, 34 are arranged at a first surface of the carrier body 35. The firstsurface of the carrier body 35 is flat. An insulating layer 37 isfabricated on the first and the second conducting line 33, 34. Theinsulating layer 37 covers the first and the second conducting line 33,34 and the first surface of the carrier body 35. As shown on the leftside of the lower part of FIG. 2B, the portable object 10 is arranged onthe first surface of the carrier body 35. The portable object 10comprises the carrier 19, wherein the carrier 19 is arranged between thefirst and the second conducting line 33, 34 and the first and the secondpad 12, 13. The first pad 12 is isolated by the carrier 19, the air gap29 and the isolating layer 37 from the first conducting line 33.Correspondingly, the second pad 12 is isolated by the carrier 17, theair gap 29 and the isolating layer 37 from the second conducting line34.

As shown in the upper part and on the right side of the lower part ofFIG. 2B, the portable object 10′ can alternatively be arranged at asecond surface of the carrier body 35 that is opposite to the firstsurface of the carrier body 35. The upper part illustrates the two siteswhere the portable object 10, 10′ can be placed. In general, only one ofthe two objects, either the portable object 10 or the portable object10′, is attached at the signal transfer arrangement 32.

The first and the second conducting line 33, 34 are implemented as twoparallel traces that form a transmission line. The first and the secondconducting line 33, 34 are parallel to each other such as two rails of arailway. The strap 18 is coupled to the transmission line. Thus, thestrap 18 is used without any connection to an antenna. The strap 18 iscapacitively coupled to the transmission line, thus no electricalconnection is needed. The strap 18 can be named a tag or a RFID tag. Thecommunication between a not shown RFID reader 80 and the strap 18 occursthrough signal propagation along the transmission line and capacitivecoupling to the strap 18. The transmission line and the strap 18 areisolated by dielectric materials (solder mask/solder block or thesubstrate 35 itself of the transmission line, plus the PTFE or PETcoating 19 of the strap 18). The strap 18 can be placed either direct ontop of the transmission line or on the back side of the carrier body 35.Between the transmission line and the pads 12, 13 only dielectric layersare present. The transmission line can be implemented on rigid PCB or ona flexible circuit.

FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30. A conducting layer 38 is fabricated on thesecond surface of the carrier body 35. The conducting layer 38 containsa metal. The portable object 10 is located at the first surface of thecarrier body 35. The carrier body 35 is realized as a PCB. Theconducting layer 38 forms a ground plane. Thus, the transmission line isformed by two parallel traces realized by the first and the secondconducting line 33, 34 and the ground plane implemented by theconducting layer 38. The strap 18 is coupled to the transmission line.In case of transmission line with ground plane insulation, due tophysic/theory of electric field propagation, the strap 18 cannot beplaced on the second surface of the carrier body 35 that means thebottom side of the PCB and can only be placed on top of it, in order tobe able to couple in an efficient way with the transmission line.

FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. A third conducting line 39 is arranged on the carrier body35. The first conducting line 33 is between the third conducting line 39and the second conducting line 34. The third conducting line 39 has adistance D′ to the first conducting line 33. The distance D′ between thefirst and the third conducting line 33, 39 is equal to the distance Dbetween the first and the second conducting line 33, 34.

The first, the second and the third conducting line 33, 34, 39 also forma transmission line. The signal transfer arrangement 32 comprises thethird conducting line 39. The first, the second and the third conductingline 33, 34, 39 are implemented as a coplanar waveguide, abbreviatedCPW. The signal transfer arrangement 32 comprises the CPW. Theconducting line which is in the middle between the other two conductinglines is a signal line. The outer conducting lines are ground referencelines. According to FIG. 4, the first conducting line 33 is the signalline and the second and the third conducting line 34, 39 are the groundreference lines. Thus, the first conducting line 33 is in the middlebetween the second and the third conducting line 34, 39. As shown inFIG. 4, the portable object 10 can be attached to the first surface or,alternatively, to the second surface of the carrier body 35.

The strap 18 is coupled to the CPW. In the CPW, the center trace is thesignal line and the side traces are the ground reference line. Due tofield distribution in the CPW, in order to achieve efficient couplingbetween the strap 18 and the transmission line, the strap 18 has to beplaced between the signal line and one of the ground reference lines.The strap 18 can be located direct on top of the traces or on bottomside of the PCB respectively flexible circuit 35.

FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. The conducting layer 38 is fixed on the second surface ofthe carrier body 35. The third conducting line 39 is fabricated on thefirst surface of the carrier 35. Thus, the portable object 10 can onlybe attached to the first surface of the carrier body 35. The portableobject 10 can be arranged such that the first and the second pad 12, 13are capacitively coupled to the first and the second conducting line 33,34, but the portable object 10 can alternatively also be arranged suchthat the first and the second pad 12, 13 are capacitively coupled to thefirst and the third conducting line 33, 39. The coplanar waveguide isrealized as a grounded CPW, abbreviated GCPW. In case of grounded CPWdue to presence of the ground layer 38 under the carrier body 35, thestrap 18 can be placed only on top of the carrier body 35.

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. The first and the second conducting line 33, 34 are curved.The first and the second conducting line 33, 34 may have the form of ahalf-circle, a circle arc or a circle. The first surface of the carrierbody 35 can have a three-dimensional form. The carrier body 35 can havethe form of a cylinder, cone, hemisphere or another non-flatthree-dimensional form. The first and the second conducting line 33, 34are located on the inner wall of the cylinder, cone, hemisphere or othernon-flat three-dimensional form. The two parallel traces 33, 34 formingthe transmission line are fixed on a circular substrate 35 with orwithout ground 38. The transmission line configuration having the twotraces 33, 34 do not follow a straight line direction, but follow acurved path on a plane of the carrier body 35.

FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. The third conducting line 39 is arranged on the firstsurface of the carrier body 35. Thus, a coplanar waveguide is attachedto the three-dimensional and non-flat carrier body 35. The CPW isrealized on a circular substrate 35 with or without ground 38 and thestrap 18 is coupled to it. The CPW is implemented as a curved CPW. Asfor the previous example, in case of CPW, the strap 18 has to be placedbetween the signal and the ground line to ensure correct coupling.

FIG. 8A shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. The signal transfer arrangement 32 comprises the firstconducting line 33, the carrier body 35 and the insulating layer 37.Moreover, the signal transfer arrangement 32 comprises a further pad 45which is on the top surface of the insulating layer 37 and is connectedto the first conducting line 33 by a via 46. The signal transferarrangement 32 also comprises an additional pad 47 that is on the topsurface of the insulating layer 37 and is connected by a further via 48to the conducting layer 38. The further pad 45 and the additional pad 47have such a distance that the first and the second pad 12, 13 can coupleto the further and the additional pad 45, 47. The second conducting line34 can be implemented by the conducting layer 38. The conducting layer38 in FIGS. 8A to 8C has the same function as the second conducting line34 in FIGS. 2 to 7.

The portable object 10 is arranged on the signal transfer arrangement 32such that the portable object 10 can communicate to the first conductingline 33 and the conducting layer 38 by means of the further and theadditional pad 45, 47. The signal transfer arrangement 32 comprisesthree more additional pads 49 to 51 which are electrically connected tothe conducting layer 38 by further vias 52 to 54. The additional pads47, 49, 50, 51 are arranged such that they are located at the corners ofa rectangular area on the first surface of the signal transferarrangement 32, wherein the further pad 45 is in the middle of therectangular area.

The isolating layer 37, the first conducting line 33, the carrier body35 and the conducting layer 38 can be realized as parts of a PCB. ThePCB can be implemented as a multi-layer PCB. The carrier body 35 and theisolating layer 39 can be formed by isolating layers of the multi-layerPCB. The first conducting line 33 and the conducting layer 38 can befabricated as metallization layers of the multi-layer PCB. The distanceof the further pad 45 to the additional pads 47, 49, 50, 51 isapproximately equal. Thus, the portable object 10 can be attached tofour different sites on the first surface of the signal transferarrangement 32 for communication.

The first conducting line 33 and the conducting layer 38 form astrip-line. The strip-line in a multilayer structure including the pads45, 47, 49, 50, 51 connected to signal and ground plane creates anad-hoc electric field distribution in order to allow coupling betweenthe strip-line and the strap 18. Coupling between the strap 18 andsignal propagating through the transmission line is implemented by thepads 45, 47, 49, 50, 51 that are placed in a different layer withrespect to the signal line 33 and the ground 38. The pads 45, 47, 49,50, 51 are connected to the signal line 33 and to the reference ground38. By doing this an electric field is created between the further pad45 connected to the signal line 33 and the additional pads 47, 49, 50,51 connected to the ground layer 38 (they act as capacitors, in theexample shown in FIG. 8A as four different capacitors). When the strap18 is placed in between the further pad 45 connected to the signal line33 and one of the additional pads 47, 49, 50, 51 connected to the groundlayer 38, it capacitively couples to both pads and allow signal andenergy transmission from the signal line 33 to the integrated circuit 11and consequently communication between the RFID reader 80 and theintegrated circuit 11.

FIG. 8B shows a cross-section of the information transmission system 30shown in FIG. 8A. The pads 45, 47, 49, 50, 51 can have a circular shape,a rectangular shape, a quadratic shape or any other shape. The via 53 islocated such that it connects the middle of the additional pad 50 theconductive layer 38. Alternatively, the via can connect another point ofthe pad, for example it can connect an edge of the pad to the conductinglayer 38, as shown by the additional pad 49 and the via 52 on theright-hand side of the cross-section shown in FIG. 8B.

The signal transfer arrangement 32 comprises pads 45, 47, 49, 50, 51that are used to couple with the strap 18 and placed in a differentlayer. The center pad 45 is electrically connected to the signal line 33and the surrounding pads 47, 49, 50, 51 are connected to the signalreference ground 38. The strap 18 is not directly electrically connectedto the pads 45, 47, 49, 50, 51 but separated by a further insulatinglayer 44. This configuration is advantageous, when a high integration isneeded. The signal transfer arrangement 32 can comprise at least afurther layer under the reference ground layer 38, where at least anelectronic device is placed. The electronic device can be a RFID Readerintegrated circuit or an interface to a network or to a personalcomputer.

In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the additional pads 47, 49 to51 are electrically connected to the second conducting line 34 by thefurther vias 48, 52 to 54.

FIG. 8C shows a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the embodimentshown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The information transmission system 30comprises more than one of the unit 55 of the signal transferarrangement 32 shown in FIG. 8A. The unit 55 shown in FIG. 8A comprisesthe further pad 45 that is connected to the first conducting line 33 andat least one additional pad 47, 49, 50, 51. The signal transferarrangement 32 of FIG. 8C comprises a plurality of units 55, each havinga pad connected to a conducting line and at least one additional padconnected to the conducting layer 38. As shown in FIG. 8C, theconducting lines of the different units 55 to 60 are connected to thesame conducting line which is the first conducting line 33. Thus, thestrap 18 can be placed on the first surface of the signal transferarrangement 32 on several sites for communication. The signal transferarrangement 32 can be interconnected with another signal transferarrangement for enhancing the reading area.

In an alternative, not-shown embodiment, the conducting lines of thedifferent units 55-60 are not connected to each other. Thus, a strap 18located on the signal transfer arrangement 32 may selectivelycommunicate to different conducting lines. The portable object 10 maycomprise more than one strap 18. The portable object 10 may be arrangedon top of the first surface of the signal transfer arrangement 32 suchthat the plurality of straps 18 communicates to the plurality of units55 to 60 of the signal transfer arrangement 32.

FIGS. 9A to 9D show a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. The portable object 10 is realized as a container 70. Thecontainer 70 can be implemented as a capsule 71. The capsule 71 containsa liquid. The capsule 71 is realized as a coffee capsule or coffee podor coffee pad. The strap 18 is arranged at the outside of the container70. The strap 18 is arranged near the top of the container 70.Furthermore, the information transmission system 30 comprises a fluiddispensing system 72, not shown, which comprises the signal transferarrangement 32. The fluid dispensing system 72 is implemented as acoffee machine 72′. The signal transfer arrangement 32 is designed suchthat it has a hole 76 for inserting the container 70. The hole 76 canalso be named an opening. The signal transfer arrangement 32 surroundsthe hole 76. The first and the second conducting line 33, 34 arearranged in a circular form. The first and the second conducting line33, 34 encircle the hole 76. Moreover, the signal transfer arrangement32 comprises a feeding point 73 for providing contact to the first andthe second conducting line 33, 34. The signal transfer arrangement 32comprises a termination 74. The termination 74 provides that thetransmission line realized by the first and the second conducting line33, 34 obtains its characteristic impedance value. FIG. 9A shows the topview on the signal transfer arrangement 32, whereas FIG. 9B shows athree-dimensional view on the signal transfer arrangement 32. The sideview of the container 70 is shown in FIG. 9C, whereas a top view of thecontainer 70 is illustrated by FIG. 9D.

The transmission line configuration is able to read the strap 18 mountedon the capsule 71. The information transmission system 30 can beimplemented in or by the coffee machine 72′. An initial CPW matched to anot-shown RF cable 79 and consequently to the reader 80 is split intotwo branches having characteristic impendence that keep the transmissionline matched at the splitting point dividing the power received fromreader 80 by two and distributing it to the two branches of thetransmission line. The structure is circular like all the majority ofcapsules 71 and has the hole 76 in the middle needed to allow to thecoffee machine 72′ to operate correctly. A series of needles arenormally placed in the middle of the capsule 71 to pump water into itand allow coffee brewing. The capsule 71 is equipped on top of it withthe strap 18 in a way that the strap 18 will be aligned with the twotraces 33, 34 during operation.

FIGS. 10A to 10C show a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the fluid dispensingsystem 72, which is implemented as the coffee machine 72′. As shown inFIG. 10A, before a first phase of operation, the container 70 is notattached to the fluid dispensing system 72. During this phase ofoperation, the portable object 10 does not couple to the first and thesecond transmission line 33, 34. In the first phase of operation whichis illustrated by FIGS. 10B and 10C, the portable object 10 is in closeproximity to the fluid dispensing system 72. Thus, in the first phase ofoperation, the portable object 10 is arranged to the signal transferarrangement 32 such that the first and the second pad 12, 13 arecapacitively coupled to the first and the second conducting line 33, 34for data transmission. During a first sub-phase of the first phase ofoperation phase shown in FIG. 10B, the coffee machine 72 communicateswith the container 70, for example, the information transmission system30 recognizes for which drink or which sort of coffee or coffee-basedmixture the container 70 is foreseen. In a second sub-phase of the firstphase of operation shown in FIG. 10C, the coffee machine 72 provides thecoffee or coffee based mixture to a cup 69 through a tube 68.

In a second phase of operation, the container 70 is detached from thefluid dispensing system 72. The portable object 10 is removed from thesignal transfer arrangement 32 and, therefore, the first and the secondpad 12, 13 are detached from the first and the second conducting line33, 34. In the second phase of operation, a user can take the cup 69 fordrinking and the capsule 71 is removed from the coffee machine 72′. Thesecond phase of operation can be illustrated by FIG. 10A. The differenceis that the capsule 71 is empty and the cup 69 is filled in the secondphase of operation.

The integrated circuit 11 comprises a memory 106 with a number. Thefluid dispensing system 72 is configured to receive the number via thesignal transfer arrangement 32 and to select one of several methods ofoperation of the fluid dispensing system 72 according to this number. Inthe different methods of operation, the fluid dispensing system 72dispenses different drinks or brews different sorts of coffee orcoffee-based mixtures.

In an alternative embodiment, the memory 106 of the integrated circuit11 stores the information regarding which drink, which kind of coffee orcoffee-based mixture is wanted by the user. The fluid dispensing system72 receives this information via the signal transfer arrangement 32 andselects the appropriate method of operation for providing the specifieddrink or sort of coffee or coffee-based mixture.

The transmission line as shown in FIG. 9 is mounted on the coffeemachine 72′. The transmission line described in the Figures above isconnected to the RFID reader 80 via the RF cable 79 and is embedded intothe coffee machine 72′ exactly in the area, where the capsule 71 will bein contact with needles in order to allow brewing. The capsule 71 isplaced into the holder 77 and by means of a mechanical system, manuallyor automatic, will be coupled with the needles and consequently thetransmission line will be coupled with the strap 18 placed on top of thecapsule 71. At this point of time the first phase of operation startsduring which the reader 80 is able to identify the capsule 71 and readout information from the RFID integrated circuit tag. The informationreceived from the RFID tag will be transferred to the central processingunit, abbreviated CPU, of the coffee machine 72′ and the coffee machine72′ will enable (if the container 70 or the capsule 71 is the properone) the brewing of the correct coffee based mixtures/drink or any otherdrink without any selection from the user. The user will need only tostart the information transmission system 30 that incorporates thecoffee machine 72′ and said system 30 will select the proper brewingconfiguration automatically according with the identified container 70.When the container 70 is removed, the reader 80 will recognize that thecontainer 70 is not present any more and will send the informationregarding the non-presence to the CPU that will place the coffee machine72′ in standby mode. The CPU of the coffee machine 72′ is amicrocontroller.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the information transmissionsystem 30 which is a further development of the above-shown embodiments.The strap 18 is arranged in the lower half of the container 70. Thefirst and the second conducting line 33, 34 have an approximatelycircular form. However, the first and the second conducting line 33, 34do not comprise a complete circle. The end 75 of the first conductingline 33 is coupled to the end 75′ of the second conducting line 34 viathe termination 74. The parallel trace transmission line can be placedaround the holder 77 of the container 70 and the strap 18 is placed onthe side of the container 70. When the container 70 is placed into themachine holder 77, the strap 18 is aligned with the transmission lineand couples with it. When a user puts the container 70 into the signaltransfer arrangement 32, the strap 18 is aligned to the first and thesecond conducting line 33, 34.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the information transmissionsystem 30 which is a further development of the above-shown embodiments.As shown on the right side of FIG. 12, the container 70 is inserted intothe holder 77. The signal transfer arrangement 32 is arranged on theoutside of the holder 77. Thus, the first and the second conducting line33, 34 are attached at the outside of the holder 77. The holder 77 hassuch a form that the strap 18 on the container 70 is brought into closevicinity to the first and the second conducting line 33, 34. Thecontainer 70 and the holder 77 are fabricated such that the two pads 12,13 are capacitively coupled to the two conducting lines 33, 34. Thefirst and the second conducting line 33, 34 have an approximatelycircular form. The container 70 has a rotational symmetry to a middleaxis 78. Thus, the strap 18 does not have to be fixed on exactly onesite to achieve a communication between the integrated circuit 11 andthe coffee machine 72′. The coffee machine 72′ is able to communicatewith the container 70 at different angles of rotation of the container70 related to the middle axis 78.

The parallel trace transmission line is designed to be able to read thestrap 18 mounted on the side of the container 70. The parallel tracesare placed on the coffee machine 72′ in order to be able to read thestrap 18 placed on the side of the container 70. The system works asdescribed in FIG. 11. The transmission line is now placed inside thecontainer holder 77 and the information transmission system 30 will beable to identify the container 70 immediately after it will be placedinto the machine 72. This takes place, before the container 70 will becoupled with needles.

The portable object 10 may be realized as food or beverage containercomprising the strap 18.

In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the portable object 10 isrealized as the cup 69 comprising the strap 18. The cup 69 may be acoffee cup. The coffee machine 72′ may comprise the signal transferarrangement 32 at the place, where the cup 69 is applied by the user.The coffee machine 72′ identifies the cup 69 in the first phase ofoperation and provides the desired drink such as soft-drink, tea, coffeeor coffee-based mixture.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of an electronic system comprisedby the information transmission system 30 shown above. The informationtransmission system 30 comprises the signal transfer arrangement 32, thecable 79 and the reader 80. The signal transfer arrangement 32 comprisesthe transmission line. The transmission line can be realized as a CPW, agrounded CPW, a strip line or another type of transmission line. Thesignal transfer arrangement 32 is configured to be coupled to the strap18 of the portable object 10. The transmission line has a termination 74on one end of the transmission line and is connected on its other sideto the cable 79. The cable 79 is realized as an RF cable. The cable 79couples the signal transfer arrangement 32 to the reader 80. An input 81of the reader 80 to which the cable 79 is connected is realized as an RFinput/output. The input 81 has a characteristic impedance Z_(RF). Thecable 79 has a characteristic impedance Z_(cable). The transmission linehas a characteristic impedance Z_(O). The termination 74 also has acharacteristic impedance Z_(L). In the ideal case, the impedances atinterfaces are complex conjugate to each other. For example, theimpedance Z_(L) of the termination 74 is complex conjugate to theimpedance Z_(O) of the transmission line at the end 75, 75′ of thetransmission line. The impedance Z_(O) of the transmission line iscomplex conjugate to the impedance Z_(cable) at the feeding point 73.The impedance Z_(RF) is complex conjugate to the impedance Z_(cable) atthe input 81.

The reader 80 can be implemented as a RFID reader. The reader 80comprises a communication interface 82. The communication interface 92of the reader 80 can be foreseen for communication with a personalcomputer, Universal Serial Bus—abbreviated USB—, Inter-IntegratedCircuit bus—abbreviated I2C bus—, Serial Peripheral Interfacebus—abbreviated SPI bus—, a network, a controller or a middlewaresystem.

According to the system configuration overview shown in FIG. 13, theRFID reader 80 is connected via the RF cable 79 to the transmission line32 terminated on a load impedance 74. The transmission line is designedin a way to allow capacitive coupling between the strap 18 and itself aswell as has a geometrical configuration able to achieve fully matchingbetween the cable 79 and itself, in order to transfer all the powerprovided by the reader 80 to the signal line 33 and consequently to thestrap 18.

A first terminal of the input 81 of the reader 80 is coupled to an inputterminal of the first conducting line 33 and a second terminal of theinput 81 of the reader 80 is coupled to an input terminal of the secondconducting line 34. The first and the second conducting lines 33, 34 areconnected in parallel to the input 81 of the reader 80.

Additionally, the second terminal of the input 81 of the reader 80 maybe coupled to an input of the third conducting line 39. The first, thesecond and the third conducting lines 33, 34, 39 are connected inparallel to the input 81 of the reader 80.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary embodiment of a model of the signal transferarrangement 32 shown above. The first conducting line 33 is modelled bya series connection of units 83, 84. Each unit 83, 84 comprises aninductor 85 and a capacitor 86. The inductors 85 of the first conductingline 33 are connected in series, whereas the capacitors 86 connect anode between the inductors 85 to a reference potential terminal 87. Thesecond conducting line 34 also comprises several units which can bemodelled as the units 83, 84 of the first conducting line 33. The end 75of the first conducting line 33 and the end 75′ of the second conductingline 34 are connected to each other via the termination 74. The reader80 is modelled by a signal generator 88 and a resistor 89 which areseries connected. The series connection of the signal generator 88 andthe resistor 89 are arranged between the input terminal of the firstconducting line 33 and the input terminal of the second conducting line34. In FIG. 14, a simplified circuital model of the parallel tracetransmission line is shown. The parameters of the transmission lineconfiguration such as trace width W, inter-distance D (distance betweentwo different traces) and dielectric substrate properties and thicknessare selected in a way to allow perfect matching between the reader 80and the conducting lines 33, 34. This will allow transferring all thepower from the reader 80 to the transmission line and maximizing thecoupling with the strap 18.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of an equivalent circuit of thestrap 18 and of the signal transfer arrangement 32. The integratedcircuit 11 can be modelled as a parallel circuit of a resistor 90 and acapacitor 91. The capacitor 91 obtains a value of few pF, whereas theresistor 90 has a few KΩ. The first pad 12 and its connection to theintegrated circuit 11, for example by the first conductive glue spot 16,can be modelled as a parallel circuit of an inductor 92 and a capacitor93. The inductor 92 has a value of pH. A similar model can be chosen forthe second pad 13. A further capacitor 94 is arranged between the outerterminals 95, 96 of the first and the second pad 12, 13. When the strap18 is placed in proximity to the transmission line, a capacitancebetween the two pads 12, 13 and the two conducting lines 33, 34 iscreated and said capacitance allows power transfer between thetransmission line and the two pads 12, 13 and consequently to theintegrated circuit 11. The coupling of the first and the second pad 12,13 to the first and second conducting line 33, 34 can be modelled by thefirst coupling capacitor 97 between the outer terminal 95 of the firstpad 12 and the first conducting line 33. Moreover, the coupling ismodelled by the second coupling capacitor 98 between the outer terminal96 of the second pad 12 and the second conducting line 34.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of a model of the signal transferarrangement 32 with and without strap 18. In the upper part, the signaltransfer arrangement 32 comprises a matched transmission line. Thematched transmission line comprises the first and the second conductingline 33, 34 and the termination 74. In the lower part of FIG. 16, thesignal transfer arrangement 32 is shown with the strap 18 which couplesthe first to the second conducting line 33, 34. The strap 18 causes areflected signal SREF. The reflected signal SREF is provided to thereader 80 and is used for receiving information from the integratedcircuit 11.

The information transmission system 30 uses a backscatter principle forcommunication by means of the transmission line with the strap 18coupled to it. The reader 80 sends a carrier wave, abbreviated CW, at awell-defined frequency to transfer energy to the strap 18 with theintegrated circuit 11 and information by modulating the carrier wave CWby using Amplitude Shift Keying modulation or Phase-Shift Keyingmodulation, abbreviated ASK and PSK. The strap 18 is able to receive thepower transmitted by the reader 80, transform the CW in a quasi DCvoltage by using a supply circuit 102, demodulate the command by ademodulator 104, perform some processing on a logic circuit 105 andanswer to the request of the reader 80 by doing ASK or PSK modulation bymeans of a modulator 103. The modulation on the side of the integratedcircuit 11 is done by switching the impedance of the integrated circuit11 between two different states.

When the strap 18 is transferred to the transmission line and capacitivecoupling occurs, at a certain point of an original fully matchedtransmission line a load is placed by the strap 18 that will createreflection versus the reader 80. The level of the reflected signal SREFwill change between the two modulation states of the integrated circuit11. The reader 80 will be able to decode the ASK or PSK modulated signalby demodulating the reflected signal SREF received from the transmissionline.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary embodiment of the integrated circuit 11 whichcan be inserted in one of the above-shown information transmissionsystems 30. The integrated circuit 11 comprises the first and the secondRF pad 14, 15 as well as the supply circuit 102 which is connected onits input side to the first and the second RF pad 14, 15. The first RFpad 14 is directly connected to the first pad 12, whereas the second RFpad 15 is directly connected to the second pad 13. The supply circuit102 has a supply output for providing a supply voltage VDD. The supplyvoltage VDD is a quasi DC voltage. The supply circuit 102 comprises arectifier. Moreover, the supply circuit 102 comprises a voltage doublesystem. The supply circuit 102 may comprise a multi stage charge pump.The supply circuit 102 transforms the signals at the first and thesecond pad 12, 13 into the supply voltage VDD. Moreover, the integratedcircuit 11 comprises the modulator 103 which is connected on its outputside to the first and the second RF pad 14, 15. Furthermore, theintegrated circuit 11 comprises the demodulator 104 which is connectedon its input side to the first and the second RF pad 14, 15.

Additionally, the integrated circuit 11 comprises the logic circuit 105.The logic circuit 105 is realized as a digital signal processing unit.The logic circuit 105 is connected on its input side to the supplyoutput of the supply circuit 102 for providing the supply voltage VDD tothe logic circuit 105. The logic circuit 105 and the demodulator 104demodulate signals provided via the first and second pad 12, 13 to theintegrated circuit 11 and use the commands to perform logic calculationsinside the logic circuit 105. The logic circuit 105 provides informationby means of the modulator 103 and via the first and the second pad 12,13 to the reader 80. The modulator 103 uses the ASK or PSK modulationprinciple. The modulator 103 obtains a first impedance value between thefirst and the second RF pad 14, 15 in a first modulation state and asecond impedance value in a second modulation state. Moreover, theintegrated circuit 11 comprises the memory 106 that is connected to thelogic circuit 105. The memory 106 stores a number of the integratedcircuit 11. Thus, the memory 106 comprises a read only memory segment,abbreviated ROM, or a one-time programmable memory segment, abbreviatedOTP. Additionally, the memory 106 may store data received from thereader 80 via the first and the second pad 12, 13. For this purpose, thememory 106 may comprise an EEPROM segment. The integrated circuit 11 isdesigned as RFID integrated circuit transponder. Exactly onesemiconductor body comprises the integrated circuit 11. Optionally, theintegrated circuit 11 comprises a sensor such as a temperature sensor.Optionally, the integrated circuit 11 comprises an interface to anotherintegrated circuit of the portable object 10.

FIG. 18 shows an additional exemplary embodiment of the portable object10. The portable object 10 is realized as a card 107 that comprises thestrap 18. The portable object 10 comprises at least a further pad 108,109 which is connected to the integrated circuit 11. A strap 18 havingthree pads 12, 13, 108 can be connected with the signal transferarrangement 32 having three conducting lines as shown for example inFIG. 4. A strap 18 having three or more pads can be connected with thesignal transfer arrangement 32 having pads as shown for example in FIGS.8A to 8C. The different pads 12, 13, 108, 109 may be used for differentpurposes. The first and the second pad 12, 13 are foreseen for receivingand sending data via the modulator 103 and demodulator 104. The furtherpads 108, 109 are designed for energy transfer to the integrated circuit11. The further pads 108, 109 are connected to the supply circuit 102.Thus, the supply circuit 102 is not directly connected to the first andthe second pad 12, 13.

The above described information transmission system 30 and method tooperate can be used not only for drink and food dispenser systems 72,but in general with any identification system that use an RFID or secureelement placed on a tag or SIM card or SD, micro SD portable system andwhich needs to be interconnected with another unit such as a personalcomputer or a mobile device in order to be able to dispense/provide acertain service request by the user.

FIGS. 19A and 19B show a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. FIG. 19A shows a schematic view of the fluid dispensingsystem 72 which is implemented as the coffee machine 72′ or a soft drinkdispenser 77″. The portable object 10 is realized as the container 70 inform of the cup 69 comprising the strap 18. The cup 69 is realized as acoffee cup or a soft-drink cup. The fluid dispensing system 72 comprisesthe signal transfer arrangement 32 at the place where the cup 69 isapplied by the user. The fluid dispensing system 72 identifies the cup69 and than provides the desired drink such as soft-drink, tea, coffeeor coffee-based mixture. The fluid dispensing system 72 comprises aholder 77′ in which the cup 69 is inserted. The fluid dispensing system72 comprises a further holder 77″ for inserting a further cup.

FIG. 19B shows details of the signal transfer arrangement 32 and the cup69. The signal transfer arrangement 32 is realized in the holder 77′.Correspondingly, the further holder 77″ comprises a further signaltransfer arrangement that is not shown. The holder 77′ is circular. Theholder 77′ has the hole 76 or the opening 76. The strap 18 is at theoutside of the cup 69. The strap 18 is attached to a side-wall of thecup 69. The container 70 is inserted in the hole 76 of the signaltransfer arrangement 32. The holder 77′ comprises a further opening atthe front side.

The soft-drink dispenser 72″ can be applied in fast food restaurants,parks and resorts, where people will receive an empty cup 69 bypurchasing a soft drink and they will fill the cup 69 by themselves atthe fluid dispensing system 72 that is realized as a brewing machine. Inorder to be sure that people get their correct drink (the one purchasedand not other or more), the fluid dispensing system 72 will identify thecup 69 by reading the strap 18 attached to the cup 69. The cup 69 isequipped with the strap 18. The soft-drink dispenser 72″ comprises thereader 80 embedded into it and the signal transfer arrangement 32 inform of a RF transmission line embedded into the cup holder 77′ andconnected to the reader 80. The cup holder 77′ is a plastic part thatholds the cup 69 during drink brewing. The fluid dispensing system 72will detect the cup 69, when the cup 69 will be in contact with the cupholder 77′. The fluid dispensing system 72 will allow brewing only ifthe integrated circuit 11 attached to the cup 69 has been enabled at acash point. In the same way the fluid dispensing system 72 will alloweventual refilling of the cup 69, if the integrated circuit 11 attachedto it has been enabled for refilling. Said application may be used in arestaurant inside parks and/or resorts, where people may use a purchasedcup 69 during all the day in several drink distributors.

FIGS. 20A and 20B show a further exemplary embodiment of the informationtransmission system 30 which is a further development of the above-shownembodiments. FIG. 20A shows a schematic view of the fluid dispensingsystem 72 which is implemented as a drug dispenser 110. The drugdispenser 110 is implemented as a pen. The portable object 10 isrealized as a container 70 in the form of a cartridge 111 comprising thestrap 18. The cartridge 111 is filled with a drug. The cartridge 111 isimplemented as a drug cartridge. The drug dispenser 110 comprises thecartridge 111 and a dispenser unit 112. The dispenser unit 112 has theform of a tube. The cartridge 111 is implemented in the form of acylinder. The cartridge 111 can be inserted into the dispenser unit 112by a user. The signal transfer arrangement 32 is located at the insideof the tube such that the first and the second conducting line 33, 34are capacitively coupled to the first and the second pad 12, 13.

Thus, the strap 18 is implemented in a medical system such as an insulindispenser or any other dispenser. The dispenser unit 112 has mechanicaland/or electronic parts. The cartridge 111 contains the drugs that haveto be dispensed to a patient. An example is an insulin dispenser for adiabetic.

The drug dispenser 110 additionally comprises a needle 113 and a closingcap 114. The drug dispenser 110 is an electronic insulin dispenser. Thedispenser unit 112 integrates the reader 80 into it. Moreover, thedispenser unit 112 comprises a display 115. The display 115 isfabricated as a liquid crystal display, abbreviated LCD. The display 115displays the inserted cartridge 111 and the quantities of the drug thatis to be injected. The drug cartridge 111 has a strap 18 attached to itand is inserted into the dispenser unit 112. When the cartridge 111 isinserted into the dispenser unit 112, the reader 80 embedded into thedispenser unit 112 will detect the strap 18 attached to the cartridge111 and will identify the strap 18. The reader 80 will send informationto a control circuit of the dispenser unit 112 and configure thedispenser unit 112 in order to dispense the correct amount of a drugwhen required. The first pad 12 and the second pad 13 are located on onecircle of the wall of the cylinder of the cartridge 111. The first andthe second conduction line 33, 34 that are indicated by dashed lines arelocated on an inner wall of the dispenser unit 112. The first and thesecond conduction line 33, 34 are parallel to a direction 116 during theprocedure of inserting the cartridge 111 into the dispenser unit 112.Said direction 116 is parallel to the axis of the cylinder of thecartridge 11.

FIG. 20B shows an alternative orientation of the strap 18 in relation tothe cylinder of the cartridge 111. The direction from the first pad 12to the second pad 13 is parallel to the direction 116 during theprocedure of inserting the cartridge 111 into the dispenser unit 112.The first and the second conduction line 33, 34 are circular. The hole76 in the dispenser unit 112 is designed such that the first and thesecond pad 12, 13 are located near the first and the second conductingline 33, 34 and capacitively coupled to the first and the secondconducting line 33, 34 when the cartridge 111 is inserted.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information transmission system,comprising: a portable object comprising a strap that comprises anintegrated circuit, a first pad that is mechanically and electricallyconnected to the integrated circuit and a second pad that ismechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit,wherein the portable object is realized as a container and the strap isarranged at the outside of the container; and a signal transferarrangement comprising a first and a second conducting line such thatselectively either the first pad capacitively couples to the firstconducting line and the second pad capacitively couples to the secondconducting line, when the portable object is in vicinity of the signaltransfer arrangement, or the first and the second pad are decoupled fromthe first and the second conducting line, when the portable object is ata distance from the signal transfer arrangement, wherein the signaltransfer arrangement is arranged on a holder and the container isinserted into the holder such that the first and the second pad arecapacitively coupled to the first and the second conducting line.
 2. Theinformation transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the firstand the second conducting line are parallel to each other.
 3. Theinformation transmission system according to claim 1, wherein anextension of the first and the second pad is coordinated with anextension of the first and the second conducting line such thatA=A1+A2+A3≧D, wherein A1 is an extension of the first pad, A2 is anextension of the integrated circuit, A3 is an extension of the secondpad and D is the distance of the first conducting line to the secondconducting line.
 4. The information transmission system according toclaim 1, wherein the first and the second conducting line have a maindirection and the signal transfer arrangement is designed such that thecapacitive coupling of the first and the second pad to the first and thesecond conducting line is continued during a movement of the portableobject in the main direction of the first and the second conductingline.
 5. The information transmission system according to claim 1, thefirst and the second conducting line being arranged on a non-flatsurface of the signal transfer arrangement.
 6. The informationtransmission system according to claim 1, the signal transferarrangement comprising: an insulating layer attached to the firstconducting line; and at least a further pad electrically connected tothe first conducting line by a via through the insulating layer.
 7. Theinformation transmission system according to claim 1, comprising acarrier body and a conducting layer, wherein the first and the secondconducting line are arranged at a first surface of the carrier body andthe conducting layer is fabricated on a second surface of the carrierbody and forms a ground plane.
 8. The information transmission systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the signal transfer arrangement comprisesa third conducting line such that the first conducting line is a signalline and is in the middle between the second and the third conductingline, wherein the second and the third conducting line are groundreference lines.
 9. A portable object, comprising: a strap thatcomprises an integrated circuit, a first pad that is mechanically andelectrically connected to the integrated circuit and a second pad thatis mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuitsuch that the portable object is designed for data transfer bycapacitive coupling of the first pad to a first conducting line and ofthe second pad to a second conducting line, when the portable object isbrought in vicinity to the first and the second conducting line, whereinthe portable object is realized as a container and the strap is arrangedat the outside of the container.
 10. The portable object according claim9, the portable object being realized as an item of a group consistingof a coffee capsule, a coffee pod and a coffee pad.
 11. The portableobject according claim 9, the portable object being realized as a drugcartridge.
 12. The portable object according claim 9, the portableobject being realized as a card.
 13. The portable object according toclaim 9, wherein an area of the first pad has a larger size than an areaof the integrated circuit and an area of the second pad has a largersize than the area of the integrated circuit.
 14. The portable objectaccording to claim 9, the first and the second pad being arranged toopposite edges of the integrated circuit.
 15. The portable objectaccording to claim 9, the portable object comprising a carrier which isattached on the first and the second pad such that the carrier isarranged between the first pad and the first conducting line and betweenthe second pad and the second conducting line.
 16. The portable objectaccording to claim 9, the integrated circuit comprising: a supplycircuit that is coupled to the first and the second pad; a modulatorcircuit that is coupled to the first and the second pad; and a logiccircuit that is coupled to a supply output of the supply circuit forpower supply and to a control input of the modulator circuit.
 17. Aninformation transmission system, comprising: a portable objectcomprising an integrated circuit, a first pad that is mechanically andelectrically connected to the integrated circuit and a second pad thatis mechanically and electrically connected to the integrated circuit;and a signal transfer arrangement comprising a first and a secondconducting line such that selectively either the first pad capacitivelycouples to the first conducting line and the second pad capacitivelycouples to the second conducting line, when the portable object is invicinity of the signal transfer arrangement, or the first and the secondpad are decoupled from the first and the second conducting line, whenthe portable object is at a distance from the signal transferarrangement, wherein an extension of the first and the second pad iscoordinated with an extension of the first and the second conductingline such thatA=A1+A2+A3≧D, wherein A1 is an extension of the first pad, A2 is anextension of the integrated circuit, A3 is an extension of the secondpad and D is the distance of the first conducting line to the secondconducting line.
 18. A portable object, comprising: an integratedcircuit, a first pad that is mechanically and electrically connected tothe integrated circuit, and a second pad that is mechanically andelectrically connected to the integrated circuit such that the portableobject is designed for data transfer by capacitive coupling of the firstpad to a first conducting line and of the second pad to a secondconducting line, when the portable object is brought in vicinity to thefirst and the second conducting line, wherein the portable object isfree of an antenna.